In wales alone, over 550 more Foster Carers are needed to offer vulnerable young people a loving, secure and stable home; and this need for Foster Carers is ongoing during the coronavirus outbreak.
Cardiff based Calon Cymru Fostering is working alongside the UK’s leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, during this year’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign to raise awareness of the extraordinary dedication and the incredible work our Foster Carers do at this time, while encouraging more people to come forward to foster.
Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: “Foster care transforms the lives of children and young people as well as those of foster carers and their families. This has never been more important. Foster carers help children and young people flourish and fulfil their potential, as well as provide a vital service to our society. Because this happens mainly in the privacy of their own homes – especially at the moment – their contributions too often go unnoticed.”
Foster carers accomplish incredible things every day, even in the face of a global crisis that has affected every one of us and impacted all aspects of our society. Despite the practical and emotional challenges that COVID-19 brings, Foster Carers continue to provide day-to-day support, love, and stability to children and young people who can’t live with their birth families.
Yet, there are still a large amount of children coming into foster care in Wales on a daily basis, and more Foster Carers are needed to ensure there are homes available that can be matched with vulnerable children.
Sharon Cavaliere, Director of Calon Cymru Fostering, said: “It is soul-destroying if we don’t have a suitable match with any of our Foster Carers, particularly when we feel we can help a particular child.
“This is why we are seeking to approve more Foster Carers. We constantly need a diverse group of Foster Carers to meet the diverse needs of the children and young being referred. If the fostering sector ceases to recruit new Carers within this current climate, then this is likely to lead to a national shortage of Foster Carers in the months ahead. Within Wales, it has been regularly publicised that there is already a significant shortage of Foster Carers. As an agency we are continuing to actively recruit, assess, and train new Foster Carers right now.”
The general public is often not aware of how vital it is to be thinking about becoming a Foster Carer. This is why events like Foster Care Fortnight are incredibly important for raising awareness on the need for new Foster Families.
Sharon shared a recent interaction they received online: “Someone made a negative comment on social media recently – asking if this an appropriate time to advertise for Foster Carers. My answer to that is – Yes it is! Children and young people still need to be protected. This is clearly evidenced in the numbers of children being referred each day.”
Calon Cymru’s Foster Carers will be assessed, trained, and supported to a very high standard this is to ensure that we can provide a stable placement and positive outcomes for children and young people placed in our care. As an agency, we have a duty to support our Foster Carers to a high standard, so they are skilled and equipped to manage the challenges they face. Making a difference is at the heart of everything we do.
Sharon added: “We strongly encourage people to consider a career in fostering – it will be the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Fostering doesn’t stop because of a global pandemic. We need more carers now, so if you’re looking for a flexible and rewarding career where you can work from home, I urge you to contact us.”
To find out how you could become a Foster Carer, visit www.caloncymrufostering.co.uk or contact call (029 2081 1173 / 01267 223112)
